Shipwreck signal-indicator.



B. F. Nimm.l SHIPWRECK SiGNAL INDICATOR.

APPLCATSON HLED MAY,19H.

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EFA/1.210 fz,

, V 58 Gnomi.,

B. F. NIXON.

SHIPWRECK SIGNAL INDICATOR APPLICATION FILED IIIAY I, I9I4.

Patented IIIay 4, 1915.

2 SHEiTS-SHEET 2.

f i I EEHMN FREKLN NIXGN, F WINHPEG, MANTOBJ., CENAB.

SHETBJECK SIGNAL-INDICATG,

Specncatcn of Letters Patent.

Patentes nay s, 1ers.

Application filed Kay 7, 191%. Serial Ll'o. 83? ,041.

To ail @r1/710m it may concern Be t known that BnNJaMrN F. Nixon,

of the United State-s of America, residing at 'li/'innipeg in the Province of Manitoba. end oniinion of Canada, have. invented certain new and useful improvements in Shipwreck Signil-indicators,v of which the ifoliovfing is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing. n

This invention relates to a ship Wreck signal Yindica'zor and has for its principal object o the production of a device which is adapted 'to he normally carried upon the upper deck of a ship which is adapted to float therefrom provided, the ship sinks, whereby the buoy Ymay remain upon the surface of the water sofas to indicate .the spot or position Where the ships rests after sinking.

Another object of this invention is the production of a device `which is provided with a cable for vattaching the same to the decir a ship whereby the'cahle may be paid so as to allow the indicator to remain upon the surface of the water while the ship sinks and thus indicate the spot or position Where the ship may he found. Another object of this invention is .v the production of a device adapted to facilitate the location of a ship which has suing-the ship and indicator beingA provided with siniple and efficient means for relieving the cable of the strain caused by a' sudden jerk and thus preventing the cable from being severed. Y

H still further obgiect of this invention is the production oi a device having a framevvorii having a plurality of lights for facilitating the location of -the buoy and* also a plurality of bells for attracting attention to the same, this buoy being adapted 'to be attached to the body cfa vessel.

W'ith these and other objects in view this invention consists of certain novel coinbinations, constructicms and arrangements of parte will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

in the accompanying drawings like charparts in the that the action of the 'Water upon the buoy -Will cause the bells to Vring as the buoy actors of reference indicate like several views, wherein Figure l is a perspective view of the ship wreck signal indicator illustrating the same in use and the manner in which' the same is adaptedto drift above e. vessel 'which has neen disabled 'and sunk.A Fig. 2 is a central Vvertical section taken through the ship wreck signal indicator. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 33 of Eig. 2 looking in direction of the arrows. Fig. #i is e. tragreentary detailedV perspective View or the snp'porting means for the device which is carried by the ship and also ot' the retaining means. Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 looking in direction of the arrows. Fig. 6 is a section taken on the rline o Fig, 2. Fig. 7 is a section taken on the iine Zr-7 of Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is e. vertical section through the retaining means carried by the ship. Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view of a certain automatic switch used in connection with this invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals l designates the body of the buoy which converges toward its ylower portion as disclosed at 2 and in which the haliast 3 which is formed of-lead or any other suitable materiel is carried. The upper portion of this body l is closed by the cap which is-secured in' place hy rivets 5 and which may then be suitably sealed. By

forming the buoy in.this manner it will oe seen that the same Will be provided with a;

floating body which is formed to carry a baiiast for alwaysl retaining the same in its correct upright position. ins 5 extend from the sides of thebodv l so tol pass s through the body l and the cap l and upon these pins there is secured a bowed strip 6. This bowed strip 6 is formed so as to allow the central portion of the same to be placed at a spaced distance above the upper portion 'of the cap i and this strip is heldin pivotal movement on the pin 5 by ineens of a staii 7 which has its lower end carriedfwithin the annular rib S formed upon the cap d. This stag 7 passes for a spaced distance above 'the strip and is adapted Ato carry at its upper end flags 9. One of these :flags being adapted to indicate the point to which the ship is sailing and the other rto 'indicate ,the place from which the ship camo. This strip 6 also carries a number of bells 10 which depend 'from the under surface of the strip and arepositioned between the strip and the cap d. These bells are allowed to swing so swings to and fro and rides the Waves. -The ,strip 6 also carries upon its opper .surface s `vided with lights lfor be noted, however, that when the buoy is' normally carried upon the deck of a ship the bells may be muffled in any suitable manner While the lamps may be disconnected so that the bells will not ring and the lights will not be lighted when the device is not in use. This buoy is adapted to be attached to the deck of a vessel and therefore there is provided a suitable means, which will be hereafter described for supporting a cable and attaching the cable to the buoy. There is provided a sleeve 15 which is secured by the rivets 16 to the central portion of the body 1. This sleeve 15 is provided at its lower portions with a pair of plates 17 and 18 which have annular llanges 19 for allowing the securing means to bepassed therethrough for fixedlyrretaining these plates in the lower portion of the sleeve 15. It 1s,

of course, obvious that the plates are se-A cured withinthe sleeve 15 and thesleeve 1s' secured tothe body 1. so as to prevent the passage of water therebetween, owing to the snug construction of the several parts and after which the application of any4 suitable material may be laced around the junctions or cracks for elgciently sealing the same; between the plates 17 and 18 there are carried the vertical rods 2O and 21. The block 22 is slidably mounted upon the rods 21 and is normally held adjacent the platelS by' means of the coiled spring 23 which is positioned between the rods 21 and bears at one end upon the plate 17 and at the opposite end upon the sliding block 22. This block 22 has the guide ingers 24 extending from each end and these guide fingers are adapted to have eyes 25 which fit upon the vertical rods 20. The links 26 are secured at their upper ends to thefmgers 24 and depend or pass through the plate 17. The lower ends of these links 26 carry the bracket 27 having the depending arms 28. The drum 29 is pivotally secured to these depending arms 28 and upon this drum thel cable 30 is carried. (lne. end of the drum 2f) is provided with a ratchet sheet 31 which is engaged by the pawl 32 carried by the bracket 27. This pawl engages the ratchet wheel 3l. for preventing the drum 29 Jfrom rotating in one direction but is positioned so as to allow the drum to rotate so as tov allow the cable to be unwound or paid.

Freni the jforegoing description it willbe seen that the devicc carried by the buoy will efiiciently support the cabhl 30 andwill allow the same to be unreeled therethrough as a ship sinks. lf, however, the cable unreels `Each box 16 to the end or a sudden jerk is imparted there# to the links 26 will draw downwardly upon the fingers 24; thereby compressing the spring In this manner the yieldableconnection will take up the sudden strain' and will preven the cable 30 from being broken or sevf ere The upper deck 33 of the ship 34 is* provided with the vertical arms 35 having the Y-shaped branch 36 formed inte-gral upon each arm W'hen the buoy is carried upon the deck of a ship under normal conditions, the pins 5 will be carried by the branches 36 of the arms 35 and be held in its correct position; When, however, the

ship begins to sink the buoywill be floated by the water from engagement with the arms 35 and will thereby ber-lifted from engagement with the ship and will begin to float. The deck 83 is also `provided with the rods 37 having nuts 38 carried upon their upper ends for retaining the bearing plate 39 thereon. This bearing 'plate is provided with a pockets/l0 for receivingone end ot' the coiled spring 41. The lowerend of the coiled spring rests in the socket 42 formed in the plate 43 from which the projections 44 extend so as to slidably support the plate 43 upon the rods 37. An eye 45 is secured to the plate 43 and to this eye` there is attached the lower end of the cable 30. This cable passes upwardly through the coiled spring 41 and through the opening 46 lformed in the bearing plate 39, so as to always provide a yieldable connection for the lower end of the cable whereby the sudden strains upon the cable will be relieved by the spring 11 as well as by' the: I

spring 23. It will also be seen that the 4 may be provided with a plurality of b xes 16 which are similar to the battery box 16.4 has its body portion formed integral upon the cap f1 and is provided with a hinged collar 47 which maybe held ina closed position by any suitable locking means 48. These boxes are 4adapted to contain articles such as the passenger list, the cargo 11st, and thel dates of each date so that the time when the ship sunk will be determined. It will also be rnoted that the 'placing of'tilge bells below the lamps which are carried\ 'y the strips 6 will prevent the bells from striking the lamps and breaking the'same as the buoy moves.'

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a ship wreck signal' indicator has been vproduced which is so formed as to be easily carried by the upper deck of a ship cap but whichis adapted to easily drift there` trom as the ship sinks andremain upon the lsurface of the water and to be attached to the ship by a cable so as to determine the e'X- act location of the ship. Furthermore, this device 1s' provided with simpleand elicient signaling meahs for drawing attention l metallic ball pnl the cablev and thus preventing elle cable from being broken or severed due vtoindue strain being brought-to. bear thereon. y

By so Figs-1 and@ it will be seen slaat an automaric switch has been produoedjwhereby circuit may be ainomasically closed forv illuminating the electric lights. "llie cap l 'carries a piyo-blade having a cord 50 connected thereto. This cord asses through a series of guide-eyes 5i and is-ntaelied al; its oppositeend to a rlhis ball 52 rests in a shallow bowl 53 when the buoy is in its correct position upon the deck oi a ship. iilhen however the ship sinks and the buoy begins to lioat, the rocking of the buoyby the Wares will cause the metallic ball 52 io be thrown from engagement willi the bowl The weighrl or" this metallic ball will draw upon Jdie cord thereby drawing Jche oord through the eyes 5l and swing the lade e9. This action of the blade i9 will cause ihe saine 13o be swung over the coniact points ne of the conductors l and le Jchere- 'by forming a circuit for lighting the electric lamps it. is obvious that when lfnis buoy is in is correct position upon the deck of a ship, the metallic ball 52 will remain in the bowl thereby causing circuit to remain brel-:en

li; is of course obvious that toe cable 30 be provided Wil-h numerals ai. spaced isiances apart to facilitare the determining o' bhe depth of the Water in which the ship sunk.

i claim:- l. A. device oi the class described comprising a body conyerging toward iis lower end, a cap lixedvupon the upper portion of said body, a ballasJ member positioned Within the lower portion of said body whereby said body will be held in its correctver- `tical. posiion, signaling means carried above said can, whereby said signaling means will be held above the Water, and means yieldably connecting a cable to the lower portion or said body, said cable adapted io be connected io a vessel whereby when l sinks said bodygnay doar, and allow able io engage a vessel whereby the losaid i,

tation of the vessel may be determined, and

l -`v*ieldable means adapted to prevent the orealring of said cable.

v device of ehe class described comprising hollowv body, said body converging toward iisl lower portion, a cap carriedupon the upper portion of said body for forming a closure iliereor, a sleeve iixedly secured "so the loiyer'portion of said body, plates' iiXedly secured Within the lower portion of said sleeve, means connected to said plaies for yieldably aitaching a cable io said plates, said cable adapted to be attached, also to a vessel said ine-ans adapted to unreel said verging toward its lower portion, closing the upper poi-sion of said cable vas a vessel sinks whereby said bodyv will float to indicate the position of a vessel.V 3. A device 'of the class described oom-l prising a hollow body, a cap carried by the upperportion of said body forming a closure for he same, signaling ineens carried above said cap, a sleeve xedly secured upon the lower portion of said body, plates lire redly secured Within said sleeve and at av spaced distance apart, a plurality or vertical rods liedly secured between said plates, a sliding plate carried upon a pair of said vertical rods, a spring bearing upon one of said fixed plates and upon said sliding plaie will be normally urged i i one direction, and

means connected to said securing acable, said doble-adapted to be Asecured io a Vessel whereby said cable may be attached so a Vessel so as to alloysT the body to indicate the position of a Tsessel,- said springend sliding plaie being adapted! to yieldably conneci the cable thereby pre- Venting the saine from being broken by undue strain being brought thereon,

l. il. device oil the class described com-.Y prising a supporting body, seid body cona cap for body, a signal, and means carried above said cap, said signaling means adapted io attract atieniion to said body, a lsleeve carried upon said body, a pluraliiy or" spaced plates lixedly secured Within said sleeve, veriical rods carried by said plates, a slidinv plate positione'd upon a pair of said rods, a screen carried between said last-mentioned rods sliding plate for i and bearing upon said sliding plate for nor-fremain at-'saohed thereto and 'the body will iloat so as to indicate the location of the vesselfsaid spring adaplced to laire up any undue strain' adapted to bear upon the cable and thus preventing the saine rombeing broken.

5. A device of the class described comprising a floating body, a cap forming a closure for the upper porrion of said body, signaling means positioned Yabove said cap, a sleeve carried upon the lower portion of said body, a plurality or" xed plates carried Withinsaid sleeve, vertical rods carried by said xed plat-es, a sliding plate carried by a pair of said rods, a spring bearing upon said slidl ing plate for normally urging the same in one direction, a finger extending from each end of said sliding plate and engaging one of said vertical rods, links engaging said fingers and extending through one of said fixed plates, a cable, means for supporting said cable upon said links, said cable adaptcd to be secured to a vessel whereby said cable may be paid out so as to allow the body to float and thus indicatethe location of a vessel.

6. A -device of the class described comprising a body, a cap carried by the upper portion of said body and forming a closure therefor, a plurality of pins extending from said body for normally forming a support for said body, a bowed strip carried upon.

'said pins, the central portion of said strip combination with a vessel, arms extending from said vessel and terminating in branches at their upper ends, of a hollow body, said body provided with a closure cap, pins extending from said body, sa'id pins adapted to be carried by said Vertical arms, whereby said body may be supported upon a vessel, a cable secured to said body and to said vesn sel, means for yieldably connecting the cable at each end whereby said body may iioat for indicating the location of a vessel. and said yielding means adapted to 'preventl the undue strain upon said cable.

8. In a device of the class described the combination with a vessel, vertical arms terminating in branches at their upper ends carried by said vessel, rods carried by said Vessel, a bearing plate secured to the upperportions of said rods, a sliding'plate' positioned upon said rods, a spring bearing upon said plates, a hollow body, pins eX- tending from said hollow body and adapted to engage said arms whereby the same may be normally supported, and a cable connected to said sliding plate at one end and to said hollow body at the opposite end whereby saidcable may be 'paid out so as to conneet the body to said vessel for vallowing said body to indicate the location of a vessel, and said spring being adapted to relieve undue strain upon said cable.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aihX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN FRANKLINNIXON.'

Witnesses:

Cifras. A. ROBINSON, E. W. Nance.' 

